The 2nd Ave Deli opened in 1954 on the second avenue in East Village. Original location closed in 2005 and reopened one in Upper East Side and one in Murray Hill. A waitress told me this location opened in 2008. 2nd Ave Deli is a one of iconic deli of New York City. I had checked of some of other famous delis in city, pastrami sandwich at Katz’s and Bagels and lox at Russ & Daughters. Carnegie Deli is my next stop but they’re temporarily closed right now, scheduled to reopen on next month.

Me and my friend Lord of the forks were here for lunch to try Pastrami and Brisket sandwiches. Result of patrolling: We both thought Pastrami was better than Brisket. Also Katz’s Pastrami and Brisket are both better than 2nd Ave Deli. BUT like I said this place is Bucket List so you should definitely try their sandwiches while you are in New York.

New Executive Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois ”Blue Smoke”

New Executive Chef – Jean-Paul Bourgeois

Last week was the third time I’ve visited Blue Smoke in within 7 months. Danny Meyer’s empire, Blue Smoke is a well-known BBQ restaurant in Manhattan since 2002. The restaurant is located on 27th Street, between Park Ave & Lexington Ave in Flatiron District. ( Second one is located at 255 Vesey St in Battery City). At my last visit to Blue Smoke Flatiron, I had wonderful lunch with food blogger Gary. Gary run popular BBQ blog called PigTrip between Boston and New York. Here is his Blue Smoke’s newest review (http://www.pigtrip.net/review-BlueSmoke.htm)

Let me start from décor and atmosphere about restaurant. The décor was kind of southern fabulous. I don’t really know what that means……I meant the decor is more upscale than what you’d see at your usual chicken wings and biscuits restaurant. Between my three visits I sat in a booth downstair ( booth is perfect for three to four peoples ). This two floors big venue has lots of seating and during day main dinning room is nice and sunny. I don’t drink beer and whiskey but BBQ and those drinks just naturally go well together so it only makes sense that Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke has a great draft list and whiskey collection. Cheer ~

Now are you ready for a meat feast!? Firstable prices are very reasonable, especially after I visited at trendy BBQ join Fette Sau in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! I recommend you to order the Rib Sampler from dinner menu and “Rhapsody in Cue” from lunch menu. My ultimate favorite meat was beef brisket from brisket sampler. For the sides, you HAVE TO get the collard greens and the maple sweet potatoes. They were both so delicious! The cornbread madeleines are pretty cute. They’re bite sized and come with great gravy. Roasted smoke oysters were nice and garlicky. Deviled eggs were spicy so I ate 3/4 but tuome‘s Deviled eggs are still my #1 Buttermilk Biscuits are done right! I asked chef Jean-Paul his favorite dish and he said Black Pepper Sausage so don’t forget to order it!

The restaurant has named Jean-Paul its new executive chef since March 2014. I had a great time talking to chef Jean-Paul. He was so cool and fun. Even I didn’t have enough knowledge about BBQ, he kindly explained about preparation and ingredients for me. Blue Smoke now uses hickory, oak and maple. The smoker is an Ole Hickory.

Hidden Restaurant ”The Gorbals” in Williamsburg

I came to The Gorbals to try two dishes that I was hearing a lot of good things. I wasn’t planing to come here but last minute before I was going back to city after Robert’s I made quick visit to try two dishes here. The Gorbals is located in the space above an Urban Outfitters on North 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Menu is New American cuisine with gentle Jewish influences. I had ”naughty balls” and ”Falafel-Crusted Sweetbreads”. Naughty balls is four matzoh balls wrapped in Nueskes bacon and sit a top of horseradish mayo. Falafel-Crusted Sweetbreads are served over a cool, green hummus. Both dishes are very interesting and delicious. Specially I looooooooooved Falafel-Crusted Sweetbreads. I don’t come to Brooklyn often and I have many restaurants that I need to try so probably I won’t come back here soon but I’m so glad that I checked off two of Bucket Dish from my list today. I highly recommend you to order this two dishes if you come here 🙂

Burger & Ramen at ”All’onda”

Upstair

Another work lunch just happened to be during Restaurant Week, so we decided to go to All’onda. My main reason why I chose here for lunch, not for dinner was to patrol new lunch menu. YUP! Burger & Ramen 🙂 Unfortunately I can only give 1/5 heart for Italian Ramen 😦 Noodle wasn’t good, topping wasn’t good, parmesan dashi broth was best part of this Ramen but still it was worst Ramen I ever had in my life! I’m giving Burger was delicious. Bucatini smoked Uni pasta was delicious as usual. I’m still giving 3.5/5 for overall because beside Ramen atmosphere and foods were all great. Please read my previous dinner review for more detail about All’onda https://cutiepatroller.com/2014/01/07/all/

Bucket Dish NYC! $35 DB Burger at ”DB Bistro Moderne”

French fries told Burger ”Lean On Me Boo! You’re My BFF 🙂

DB Bistro Moderne is one of Chef Daniel Boulud’s contemporary French bistro restaurant with modern American twist. Restaurant is located on 44 street, a few blocks off Times Square in Midtown. Lunchtime was filled with the typical corporate midtown lunchtime crowd. During weekday between 11:15am-2:30pm they serves $32 two courses lunch Prix Fixe. I was here for patrolling their famous original DB burger. This burger is on ”Bucket Dish NYC” You know what that mean!!!! You MUST eat this burger before you die!!! I heard about this burger for a while but I wan’t interested to try one. Seriously!? Come On! $35 for burger!? I thought….. but I’m so glad I finally checked it off from my coronary Bucket List. I shared burger with Liz a.k.a Personalitini and let me tell you! Burger was perfect medium rare and I could taste full flavor of Foie Gras & Black Truffle. It was worth every penny. Also we shared pasta and dessert. . I’m so not dessert girl but WOW! WARM CHOCOLATE FONDANT – Vanilla Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Sorbet was the best warm chocolate cake I ever had. Well done 🙂

Ramen Lab by Sun Noodle

I was here for pre-opening media event. I had Torigara Shoyu Ramen and XO Miso Ramen. Pork Gyoza was very special. One of the best Japanese dumpling I ever had in New York *\(^_^)/* Recently I was at his famous Ramen shop AFURI in Ebisu, Tokyo Japan 🙂

鶏ガラ醤油ラーメン

Torigara Shoyu Ramen (soy-based broth) $13

Toppings: Pork Chashu, Menma, Nori, Spinach, Naruto, Fish Cake.

Tokyo style ramen consists of slightly thin, curly noodles served in a soy-flavoured chicken broth. The Tokyo style broth typically has a touch of dashi, as old ramen establishments in Tokyo often originate from soba eateries. Standard toppings are chopped scallion, menma, sliced pork, kamaboko, egg, nori, and spinach. Ikebukuro, Ogikubo and Ebisu are three areas in Tokyo known for their ramen. by wikipedia

Sapporo Style Ramen, the capital of Hokkaido, is especially famous for its ramen. Most people in Japan associate Sapporo with its rich miso ramen, which was invented there and which is ideal for Hokkaido’s harsh, snowy winters. Sapporo miso ramen is typically topped with sweetcorn, butter, bean sprouts, finely chopped pork, and garlic, and sometimes local seafood such as scallop, squid, and crab. Hakodate, another city of Hokkaidō, is famous for its salt flavored ramen, while Asahikawa in the north of the island offers a soy sauce-flavored variation. by wikipedia